Volume 2 chapter 65
Returning to Ironwood Territory... or rather, Seres Territory.
Along the way, the land had been leveled, waiting for the construction teams to pour cement.
Upon entering the original Ironwood borders, a completely different picture greeted Charlo's eyes.
Smooth, clean concrete roads stretched in all directions, connecting every corner like capillaries in a body. Straight railway lines intersected, linking the territory like major arteries.
Commercial traffic had not decreased with the onset of winter; in fact, it had increased. The people on the roads looked spirited and energetic, devoid of the numbness seen elsewhere.
Back at Ironwood Castle, Charlo listened to Lawrence's report on the past few days.
"Regarding Warhammer, Iron Lion, and the other territories... the surveys are complete. Construction routes have been planned! The United Chamber of Commerce has fully moved into the major territories, establishing eighteen branches to completely integrate trade! The initial assessment for the Prague River Port construction is complete, and specific recommendations have been made..."
Lawrence finished his detailed report, put down the documents, and looked at Charlo, who was resting his chin on his crossed hands. "Report complete. Awaiting your decision, my Lord!"
"Put those aside for a moment..." Charlo didn't look at the reports on the table. Instead, he looked at Lawrence and asked a question.
"Lawrence, what is your view on the existence of nobles?"
"Nobles..." Lawrence fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Have you decided... on the path forward?"
"Yes!" Charlo didn't hide it. "I am a Count now. I will begin interacting with the upper echelons of the aristocracy... I must decide... on the future path!"
"Is that so..." Lawrence looked deeply at Charlo, thinking. "Nobles... This existence can be traced back to the Age of Ancient Gods, perhaps even earlier to the Primitive Era! From the moment the first human wielded mana, nobles were born!"
"The birth of nobles established the aristocratic system, which has lasted for tens of thousands of years, accompanying civilization to this day! It exists in this world as naturally as air—logical and reasonable!"
"However..." Lawrence continued. "Just as air is composed of different elements, the aristocratic system shouldn't be the only way for this world. Before, no one thought otherwise. But now, there is You!"
"You revealed the different components of the 'air' to me, so I also want to see—a system different from the traditional feudal aristocracy! But I must remind you, the power of Supernatural Nobles is an objective reality. We need supernatural power. Therefore, Nobles need to exist, but the Aristocratic System does not!"
"Is that so..." Charlo lowered his head in thought.
"Go busy yourself... Lawrence. Let me think some more..."
"Yes! I will not disturb you!" Lawrence bowed respectfully and left.
Charlo looked at the reports on his desk. Every survey, every data set was measured and compiled by Supernatural Knights and Magicians. Ordinary people simply didn't have the knowledge to do it. Most could only learn basic literacy, discipline, and machine operation in technical schools.
Mapping, hydrography, route planning... these higher-end skills were beyond the capacity of most commoners to learn right now. They lacked the conceptual framework. Before Charlo, they didn't even have access to knowledge; writing their own names was a luxury.
Charlo scratched his head and left Ironwood Castle.
He went to the Research Institute in the West District. It had expanded again. Recently, there were even plans to demolish a section of the city wall to build more laboratories.
Walking toward the Magic Research Building, he saw researchers in white coats hurrying by with clipboards.
He arrived at Alice's laboratory and pushed the door open.
Alice was studying a complex array diagram, pondering over a specific rune.
"Ah! Lord Charlo! You're back!"
Seeing him enter, Alice looked up, her face lighting up with surprise and joy.
"Oh? You advanced? You sensed me directly!" Charlo asked in surprise.
"Yes! Just two days ago! I advanced—Fifth Rank!" Alice hummed proudly.
"Congratulations! It seems the title of 'Second Magician of Seres' belongs to you!" Charlo applauded.
"Seres... It seems you successfully advanced to Count as well! Congratulations!" Alice paused at the name, then smiled.
"Hm? Didn't Lawrence tell you?" Charlo found it strange. He had sent word before returning; everyone should have known.
"When Mr. Lawrence notified everyone, I had just finished my breakthrough and was fully immersed in new rune research, so I didn't listen. I just heard you were planning to use that name!" Alice explained.
"I see!"
Charlo nodded. "You don't need to push yourself so hard. Appropriate rest and relaxation are necessary! I plan to hold a city-wide banquet tonight. Come celebrate!"
"Okay!" Alice agreed.
"By the way... Alice..."
"Hm? Is there anything else, Lord Charlo?"
Charlo looked into her azure eyes and asked slowly, "Alice! What is your view on the existence of nobles?"
"Nobles?" Alice froze, twisting a strand of her golden hair. After a long while, she looked up. "Nobles... they are supernatural beings. It has been so since ancient times... Although some nobles are bad, there are also good people like Lord Charlo!"
"It's just that... not every noble is as good as you. So I think we should defeat them, then reform them properly! Even slaves become diligent from laziness after reform, so I believe Lord Charlo can definitely make those nobles become like you!"
"So, do you think the existence of nobles is necessary?" Charlo asked, his emotions unreadable.
"Yes... We need the nobles' power and knowledge. They can help our research advance further... So... do you dislike them?" Alice's voice grew smaller as she looked at Charlo cautiously.
"No..." Charlo shook his head. "You are a researcher... it's understandable for you to think that way. Don't mind it! Just a casual question!"
"Rest well and prepare for the banquet tonight!"
With that, Charlo turned and left.
Exiting the lab building, he bumped into Freya.
"My friend! Why are you free to come here? Doesn't Lawrence have a pile of work for you?" Freya blinked her large golden eyes at him.
"Ah... Just came to notify everyone. There's a banquet tonight. Want to come?" Charlo smiled and patted her head. Feeling the soft texture of the little girl's fiery red hair, he felt much more relaxed.
"Ah... honestly, don't always pat my head! I am not a child!" Freya swatted his hand away.
"Anyway, if there's a banquet, I'm going. Where is it?"
"South City Plaza!" Charlo said, then left the West District.
Next, he went to find Speer. He was in his office planning several new steel mills. With the massive expansion of Seres Territory, the original steel production capacity was insufficient.
"Ah! Lord Charlo!"
"Sit down! No need for formalities!" Charlo pulled out a chair and sat opposite him.
"Have the sites for the steel mills been selected?" Charlo asked, looking at the chart on the table.
"Selected and reported. Didn't Mr. Lawrence give you the report?"
"Oh! I haven't looked at it yet!"
"Then take a look..." Speer pulled out a map and explained. "Warhammer Territory and Iron Lion Territory both have two iron mines that can be exploited for steel mills. Additionally, Smolder Territory has a gold mine. Although the gold content isn't high, with our equipment, we can refine it better. It should bring at least dozens of kilograms of gold monthly—hundreds of Imperial Gold Coins!"
"Hm? Excellent! Build them!" Charlo was pleasantly surprised. The gold mine was a bonus; Seres Territory wouldn't have to worry about finances for a while.
"I have a question for you, Speer..." Charlo looked at the middle-aged man. "What is your view on the existence... of nobles?"
"The existence... of nobles?" Speer was surprised but thought quietly for a moment. "In my view, nobles are an existence of the Feudal System! Within the Feudal System, they are logical and effective! But our development is destroying the original feudal system step by step, using steel and technology to defeat those feudal lords one by one!"
"Therefore, they can only survive in the original feudal system. In Seres Territory, in this new system, there is no living space for feudal nobles!"
"Hm?!" Charlo was surprised. "So, you want to negate those nobles and the supernatural power they hold?"
"No, no, no..." Speer shook his head. "I'm just saying there is no place for feudal nobles here. But I don't reject the Supernatural! Rather, it is precisely because of supernatural power that we can develop so quickly! So, the Supernatural can exist, but the Nobility can go!"
"But..." Charlo asked, "In the future, those who hold supernatural power can easily acquire social resources with their strength. Under industrialization, they could control society even more smoothly. Wouldn't they just become feudal nobles again?"
"This..." Speer was speechless.
"Apologies... Lord Charlo, I haven't thought it through..."
"It's fine! I haven't figured it out either!" Charlo shook his head, stood up, and left.
On the way back to Ironwood Castle, he asked some passersby. Their answers were even more disappointing.
They were just commoners. Their thought on nobles was no thought. Isn't it normal for Noble Lords to exist? They were just lucky to be under Lord Charlo and live a good life.
Charlo wasn't angry at these answers. Seres Territory had only existed for a few years. The people hadn't lived here long enough to develop "treasonous" thoughts. Mostly, they just felt gratitude toward him.
"Education..." Charlo sighed. "Still a long way to go..."
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